“To enjoy the things we ought and to hate the things we ought has the greatest bearing on excellence of character.”
What this quote means
Aristotle here emphasizes the importance of our likes and dislikes in shaping our character. Loving what is truly good and hating what is evil is not merely an emotional reaction but an ethical choice that shapes our virtue. This quote invites us to examine our desires and align them with high values. It reminds us that moral excellence comes not only from knowledge but from the harmony between our emotions and reason. By cultivating just tastes, we become better.
How to apply it daily
Identify something you love or hate without a valid reason. Reevaluate it in light of your values and adjust your feelings to be more virtuous.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Aristotle?
Our starting point
Reflecting on happiness, virtues, and the good life
Nicomachean Ethics
It is the richest text for understanding his ideas about habits, the mean, and flourishing.
- Level
- Demanding
- Reading time
- 10–14 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
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